Is Bhilwara, the textile city of India, set to emerge as the epicentre of Corona explosion in India?
The first death from the coronavirus pandemic in Rajasthan was reported from Bhilwara on Thursday.
And, of the 36 coronavirus-positive cases in Rajasthan, 20 cases have been reported from Bhilwara.
Three doctors and five nurses also tested positive for COVID-19 in the dangerous textile city.
Bhilwara is located 250 kms south-west of Jaipur and has deep rooted tradition for textiles.
The spinning machines used in Bhilwara are imported from Italy, China and Germany.
And 69 out of 892 spinning mills in India are located in Bhilwara.
The city is India’s largest manufacturer of fabrics, and accounts for 50 percent of the total polyester fabrics manufactured in India.
The spread of Corona virus in the form of an explosion is feared in Bhilwara.
The fear is obvious because the owners of the spinning mills undertake regular visits to China, Italy and the Middle-East.
Similarly, people connected with textile industries in China and Italy also visit Bhilwara regularly.
Both China and Italy are the worst sufferers of Corona pandemic.
A total of 3,287 people died in China, while death toll in Italy because of Corona virus was 7,503 people.
Rajasthan Health minister Raghu Sharma is also worried with the possibilities of large-scale spread of Coronavirus infection from Bhilwara.
Sharma has already ordered health workers to visit homes of nearly 90,000 workers who were suspected to have been directly or indirectly exposed to infections.
The state health minister Raghu Sharma had earlier said community transmission of Coronavirus had started in Bhilwara.
“It is going to dangerous for the people of Bhilwara in the coming days,” a doctor said.
Fear of spread of Covid-19 in Bhilwara is quite similar to that of Italy.
The coronavirus outbreak has been nightmarish for Italy’s $150 billion-plus fashion industry.
While Bhilwara has the potential to emerge as world’s largest textile destination, the fear of an Italy-like Corona community outbreak will continue to haunt the people of Rajasthan.